Trawl-towing block.



H. I. COLE.

TRAWL TOWING BLOCK. APPLIOATIOIN FILED OCT. 27, 1913.

Patented Feb. 10, 1914,

UNITED STATES PA'rENT OFFICE.

HARRISON I. COLE, OF SOUTH WEYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS.

TRAWIJ-TOWING BLOCK.

To all whom, it may concern Be il known that I, IIARRISON I. Conn, a citizen of the United States, residing at South lVeyinouth, in the county of Norfolk and State ofltlassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trawl-Towing Blocks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part thereof.

This invention .has reference to improve ments in blocks particularly adapted for use insustaining trawl towing cables.

()ne object of the invention isto so construct a trawl towing block, so called, that the towing cables readily may be placed in position therein and that the sustaining wearing member for said cables may space a pair of pivoted arms or links whereby the construction of the block is simplified.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description.

The invention consists in the novel con struction of the trawl towing block as shall hereinafter be more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1, represents a front view of the improved block, a portion of a cable being indicated in position therein. Fig. 2, represents a side view of the same, the position of the wearing block and its sustaining links when open to receive the towing cables be ing indicated. Fig. 3, represents a sectional view of portions of the wearing block and its sustaining links as taken on line 33 Fig. 2. as taken on line 4& Fig. 1.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout.

Trawl towing blocks of the nature herein referred to are used for sustaining one or more towing cables, usually two, at a point between the pointat which said cables are connected with the towing machinery of a vessel and the trawls. In ordinary use the trawl towing block is engaged with the cables after such cables are paid .out to some extent and hence provision is made to open and close one arm of the block to permit the swinging downward of the cable sustaining and wearing member. Thus the location of the cables in the towing block is facilitated. It is also of importance that the wearing member, on which the cables ride, should be removable and it is desirable that such wearing member be so constructed and Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 27,1913.

Fig. 1, represents a sectional view Patented Feb. 10, 191st. Serial No. 79?,465.

combined with the swinging arms or. links of the towing block that said links =may readily swing on their pivots.

In carrying this invention into practice: I construct a trawl towing block orfraine having the main arm having near its upper end the projection 6 which is: transversely perforated to receive the pin. 7. The lower end of arm 5 is transversely perfo rated to receive the bolt 8 on which the pa1r of links or plates 9, 9 are pivoted while the other ends of said links 9, 9 are pivotallyomounted on the bolt 10 of the closure arm 11 having the loop or member 12 the opening of which is adapted to receive the projection 6. The cable sustaining or wearing block or member has the head or saddle 13 of a size to be received between the arms 5 and 11 and of a width to bear on the upper edges of the links 9, 9 and from said head 18 extends the contract ed portion or spacing neck let located between the links 9, 9 and spacing said links apart from the arms 5 and 11 so that said links may swing freely on the bolts 8 and 10. The lower end 15 of said wearing member is wider than its neck 14 to engage the lower edges of said links 9, 9. I

In operation to place the cables A, A, in position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the pin 7 is withdrawn from its perforation in proj ection 6 and the arm 11 is swung down until said arm and the links 9, 9 extend downward as indicated in Fig. 2. One or more of the cables A, A are then drawn approximately into the position shown in Fig. 2 and the arm 11 and links 9, 9 with the wearing member are then swung upward until the loop 12 of arm 11 is engaged with projection 6 of arm 5 and the saddle or head 13 of said wearing member receives the cables A, A. The pin 7 is then inserted in its perforation in projection (5 to prevent the swinging of the loop end of said arm 11 in the opening direction. When the saddle 13 of the spacing member becomes unduly worn, by the riding thereon of the cables, one of the bolts 8 or 10 may be removed thus permitting the freed ends of links 9, 9 to swing clear of the arm 5 or 11, as the case may be, whereby the worn spacing member may slide from between said links 9, 9 and a new spacing member may be substituted therefor after which the ends of said links 9, 9 may again be secured on their bolt.

At the upper end of arm 5, in Fig. 2 is indicated by dotted lines a shackle of any usual and well known construction by means of which the towing block may be secured to any well known sustaining device but said shackle forms no part of the present invention.

Having thus described my invention 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent.

1. Atrawl towing block of the nature described comprising a main arm having at one end a transverse bolt, a pair of links pivotally mounted on said bolt, a closure arm havinga bolt on which said links are Q also pivoted, and a wearing member located between said links-and spacing them apart free from said arms, said arms having complemental engaging means.

2. A trawl towing block of the nature described comprising a main arm having a rigid projection near its upper end and a transverse perforation at its lower end, a bolt extending through said perforation, a pair of links perforated near their ends pivotally mounted on said bolt, a second bolt extending through the perforations in said links, a closure arm pivotally mounted on said second bolt and having an opening to receive said projection of said main arm, a spacing member located between said links to space them apart free from said arms and having a saddle extending over the upper edges of said links, and a pin adapted to be secured. in said projection of said main arm for holding said closure arm in position.

HARRISON I. COLE.

\Vitnesses HENRY J. MILLER, ESTHER C. MURPHY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

